Electrical coupler



March 6, 1934. 1 F, TRlTLE 1,950,200

ELECTRICAL COUPLER Filed Dec. 30. 1932 Inventor* I John F Tritle,

His Attorney.

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 PA'EENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL COUPLER John F. Tritle,Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of NewYork Application December 30, 1932, Serial No. 649,559

8 Claims.

My invention relates to electric cable couplers of the type commonlyused on railway trains for establishing the power connections betweencars, and has for its object the provision of a device oi i thischaracter of simple and inexpensive construction which insures ease ofoperation.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to use a plug and socketcoupling device. However, in designing heavy duty couplings it requiresconsiderable manual elort to push the plug into place in the socket, andwhen the parts become roughened or marred in service it is oftennecessary to use additional mechanical force to engage or disengage thecouplings. This mechanical force is ordinarily applied by whipping theconnecting cables or by striking Vthe cables with a switch bar, couplingpin, or other convenient implement. Any of these methods, of course,greatly shortens the life of the couplers and may result in seriousdelay in the operation of the cars or locomotives.

In carrying out my invention in one form thereof, I provide main Contactsprings in the socket portion of the coupler and arrange a cam inoperative relation with the springs so that the bias normally applied bythe springs on the currentcarrying elements may be removed so as topermit the insertion of the plug member with minimum eiiort. Morespecically, I include relatively strong springs Aand relatively weaksprings so that the bias of the weaker springs causes a wiping orcleaning action between the plug and the socket. The cam is arranged tobe operated by movement of a cover plate which is normally biased to theclosed position by a coil spring. After the coupling plug is inserted inthe socket the cam is operated to release the full tension of thesprings thereby establishing an electrical connection having a minimumresistance between the plug and socket.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should nowbe had to the drawing in which Fig. Y1 shows a sectional elevation of myinvention with the coupler plug in the currentcarrying relation withrespect to the coupler socket; Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation of thedevice of Fig. l with the plug disengaged from the socket; and Fig. 3 isa section of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my invention in one form asapplied to a coupler arranged to complete a circuit between conductors11 and 12, which conductors lead to the power connections in adjacentcars. The coupler plug 13 is soldered or welded to the end 14 of thecable 12. An outwardly extending flange 15 of the plug is provided withholes through which supporting bolts 16 and 17 extend. These bolts arescrewed into the insulating material 18 moulded into the plug casing 19and serve to center the plug within the casing. A cylinder 20 ofinsulating material extends from the moulded insulation 18 to the openend of the casing 19. l

The coupler socket 21 is similarly supported within the casing 22 bymeans of the moulded insulation 23. The current-carrying members 24 and25 of the socket 21 are electrically connected to the cable 1l, asindicated by the reference numeral 26. The current-carrying members arepreferably made of copper because of its low resistivity. In order toprovide a high contact pressure, the main contact springs 29 and 30 arearranged to bias the current carrying members 24 and 25 towards eachother.

To secure the easy insertion of the plugvlS into the socket 21, a cam 32is arranged between the main springs 29 and 30 so that the normal biasexerted by these springs on the contact members 24 and 25 is removed.The rotation of the cam 32 is accomplished by means of .a crank arm 34which is secured at one end 35 to the cam and at its other end 36 to alink 37 extending to and pivotally connected with a hinged cover 38provided for the casing 22. The cover 38 ispivotally connected to thecasing 22 by a pin 39 and is biased to its closed position by a coilspring 40; .A handle 4l is provided by an extension of the cover 38. I

Whenever the cover 38 is manually operated to the position shown in Fig.2, it will be observed that the cam 32 removes the bias on the contactmembers 24 and 25. At the same time links 42 and 43 pivoted at one end44 to an extension 45 formed on the cam are moved in a direction to openthe interlock contacts 47 and 48. For example, the link 42 rotates themovable contact 48 about the pivot point 49 to interrupt its circuit.The contacts 47 and 48 are connected in circuit with the operating coilof the contactor (not shown) normally connected in series with conductor11. Consequently the circuit including the conductor 11 is alwaysdeenerg'ized when the cover 38 is operated to the position shown. If.yit were not for this provision injurious arcing might occur between thecontact members 24 and 25 and the plug 13 when the plug 13 is removedfrorn the socket 21 with possible injury to the operator.

Besides the bias produced by the main springs 29 and 30, the auxiliarysprings 50 and 51 are arranged to produce a bias of predeterminedmagnitude on the contact members 24 and 25.

This magnitude is only sumcient to insure a cleaning action between thecontact members 24 and 25 and the plug 13 when the plug is removed orinserted in socket 21. Assuming now that the cover 38 is in the positionshown and the casing 19 and the plug 13 are moved to the left, it willbe observed that the plug 13 enters the socket 21 in concentric relationwith it. The auxiliary springs 50 and 51 perform their function bybiasing the contact members so that any corrosion or dirt on the plug iscleaned away in readiness for the completion of an excellent electricalconnection. The plug and casing are then moved to the left until aflange 54 formed on the casing 19 abuts against the casing22. The handle41 is then released and the spring 40 operates the cover 38 in aclockwise direction'to the position shown in Fig. 1. The cam 32 isthereby rotated to apply the bias of the main springs 29 and 30 againstthe contact members 24 and 25'to completegthe electrical connection andto provide full contact pressure between the contacts. At thesame timethe links-12 and 43 are operated toclose the interlockingcontacts 47 and48 and a latching member 57 carried by the cover is rotated into lockingengagement witha notch 58 formed in the plug casing 19. It will,therefore,

beseen that the plug 13 `is maintained in its operated position by thebias of the main springs and goby., the latch. i

Whenever `it is desired to disengageA the plug from the socket it isonly necessary to grasp the handle 41' and rotate it to the positionshown in Fig.2. The plug-13 may be; readily withdrawn lliifrom thesocket 21l and requires no force other than can be readily applied bythe operator. As

soon as the plug 13 is removed, the spring 40 rotatesthe cover 38 in aclockwise direction until the-,outer lend 59strikes the lower end 600ithe .'jzcasing ,221 Thus it will be seen that the casing 22 is closedbythe cover 38 and provides additionalsafety to the-,trainmen ineifectivelyv preventing-,contactwith the current-carrying members24=`and 25.

er While I have shown a particular embodiment of my. invention, it willbe understood, of course, that..I do not wish to be limited theretosince many.modications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover' fany lsuchmodirlcations as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new-and` desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnitedStates, is: 1. An electric couplerY comprising a plug and ""a vsocketadapted to receive said plug, theY said socket'having acurrent-carrying` member, means forbiasing saidmember against said plug,a movablercover for said socket,l and means associated With-"said coverforfoperatingsaid biasing means oitoremove the bias from ,said member soas to permit the easy engagement and disengagement offsaid plug and saidsocket.`

2. lIn4 an electric coupler,the combination of a plug. and aplurality'of current-carrying mem- "be'rs arranged to form-a socket forsaid plug, biasing means associated with each of said membersIorapplying a pressure of predetermined magnitude on yeach of saidmembers, a movable cover .[6 for said socket, and means responsive tomovement of said cover for operating said biasing means to remove saidpressures so as tov permit the insertion of said plugwithin Vsaidsocket, said means operating said biasingm'eans to apply a,predetermined contact pressure between .said

kbers for applying a pressure against said memmembers and said plug uponmovement of said cover to a predetermined position.

3. In an electric coupler, the combination of a plug and a plurality ofcurrent-carrying members arranged to form a socket for said plug,biasing means associated with each of said members for applyingpressures of predetermined magnitude on said members, a movable coverfor said socket, means responsive to movement of said cover from aclosed position to an open position for operating said biasing means toremove said pressure to permit the insertion of said plug within saidsocket, said means operating said biasing means to apply a predeterminedcontact pressure between said members and said plug upon movement ofsaid cover towards closed position, and latching means on said cover forpreventing the withdrawal of said plug.

4. An electric coupler comprising a plug and a socket formed byrelatively movable currentcarrying ymembers forv receiving .said plug,.main biasing means associated with each of saidmem-` bers for applyingpressures of relativelyVY high magnitude on said members in a-directionto bias., said members against said plug, and auxiliarylo() biasingmeansV associated with said members. for. applying Vrelatively lowpressures on said. mem.- bers to insure a `cleaning action betweenV saidplug and members during movement of said plugl into and out of saidsocket, and means for re-fmhg moving only the bias of said main biasingmeans to permit the movement of saidplug Vinto and out of said socket.

5. In an electric coupling device, the combina'-` tion with a plug, aplurality of current-carrying i116; members arranged in cooperativerelation'with each other toV form a socket arranged .to receive"` saidplug, main biasing springs .for applying a K predeterminedpressure'between said members; and said plug, a cam associatedl withsaid mainxngg contact springs for removing the pressure Yfromsaidmembers, linkage means for operating'said cam, and an auxiliaryspring associated with `each of said current-carrying membersforapplying a predetermined `pressure between said members 1mg and saidplug so as to insure a cleaning action" between said plug and saidmemberswhenever said'plug is inserted in said socket.

6. In an electric traincoupler, the combination with a plug andapluralityof current-carrying members arranged to form a socket toreceivesaid plug-of a casing surrounding said-socket, said casing beingprovided with anv opening through which said plug may be inserted, acoverl memberI for said opening pivotally mounted on said casing so asto be movable between closed and open positions to respectively coverand uncover said opening, a spring operatively asso'-Y ciated with eachof said current-carrying mem- -L bers and a cam arranged for operationto release 13E the pressure of said springs against *said members, andlinkage means extendingbetween said cam and cover so as to operate saidcam to release said pressure when said opening is uncovered and 4u, whensaid cover is moved toward said closed position operating said cam toapply'said pressure to' said members whereby said members are biasedinto engagement with said plug.

7. In an electric train coupler, the combination of a plug and aplurality of current-carrying members arranged to form a socket toreceive said plug, of a casing surrounding saidgsocket;A said casingbeing provided with an opening through which said plug may be insertedla cover member for said opening pivotally mounted on said casing so asto be movable between two positions to respectively cover and uncoversaid opening, a spring operatively associated with each of saidcurrent-carrying members for applying a pressure against said members, acam arranged to release the pressure of the springs against saidmembers, linkage means extending between said cam and said cover foroperating said cam to release said pressure Whenever said cover is movedto uncover said opening, and when said cover is moved towards closedposition to apply said pressure to said plug, and latching means carriedby said cover for locking said plug within said socket.

8. In an electric train line coupling the combination with a fixedconnecting member comprising a plurality of current-carrying membersarranged to receive a movable connecting member, a casing surroundingsaid ixed member and being provided with an opening through which saidmovable member may be inserted, a cylindrical casing for said movablemember arranged to engage said casing to center said movable member withrespect to said xed member, a closure member for said opening pivotallysecured to said casing so as to be movable between a covering positionand an uncovering position, biasing means for producing a predeterminedbias on each of said current-carrying members in a direction to producea predetermined Contact pressure between xed member and said movablemember, a rotatable cam associated with said biasing means for removingsaid bias, linkage means extending between said closure member and saidcam for rotating said cam to release said pressure whenever said closureis moved from said covering position to said uncovering position, anotch formed on said cylindrical casing and a latching member carried bysaid cover, said member and said notch forming a latch for locking saidplug within said socket whenever said closure is moved a predetermineddistance towards said covering position, said movement also operatingsaid cam to release said biasing means to establish said Contactpressure between said fixed member and said movable member.

JOHN F. TRITLE.

